photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Jolona Shield-Dzakic, the Haskell Indians head softball coach (center), cutting the ribbon during a grand opening ceremony at the university's new softball complex. Shield-Dzakic said the turf new facility has provided more energy for the program, while other leaders said it is an investment in the whole university.

Before Haskell Indian Nations University’s new turf softball field opened on Friday, head coach Jolona Shield-Dzakic said, the team had basically been playing in the dirt.

The old field didn’t have lights or a scoreboard, she told the Journal-World. Players had to miss classes because they couldn’t play night games, and their ballpark was pretty much a “dirt field.” But now, the team has much more than a scoreboard and lighting: new dugouts, bleachers for fans, a concession stand and a press box.

Around 60 people gathered in those stands on Friday to celebrate the field’s opening, and Shield-Dzakic told them the project, which had been in the works since 2023, was about “more than just turf and fences.” It’s about investments in the athletic department and in Haskell as a whole that are bigger than the school has seen in years.

Mackie Moore, dean of Haskell’s business school and a former interim president of the university, said this was a “big moment” for Haskell. The school hadn’t built a new facility like this in “quite a while,” he said, and the brand new diamond would “give (the) students something to be proud of.”

“This means more than just a field; it’s our future,” Moore said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Jolona Shield-Dzakic, the Haskell Indians head softball coach, speaking during a grand opening ceremony for Haskell Indian Nations University’s new softball complex on Friday March 20, 2026.

Zach Wilkerson, the interim athletic director for Haskell, said that the project had been a long time coming, and that its completion showed the “commitment to (Haskell’s) athletic program” and the students in general. And Jeremey Shield, an assistant coach for the softball team, agreed that its opening was a special day for the program and the Haskell community.

“If you love Haskell, it’s good to see (this) growth,” Shield said.

Not only has the new field been exciting for the softball players — Shield-Dzakic said they would ask her every day about the progress of the field and when they would be allowed to practice on it — it has also been exciting for the program’s recruiting. Shield-Dzakic said next year, the team will add 13 new recruits, and they all said seeing the construction of the facility gave them hope about the program’s future.

Friday’s ribbon cutting featured T-shirt giveaways, free food and a chance for the public to step onto the new turf. After the celebration, the players finally got the chance to go onto the field for a public batting practice.

Haskell will host two games on Saturday against the Heston College Larks — one at 2 p.m., the other at 4 p.m. Shield-Dzakic said just the thought of stepping onto the new field had “boosted the energies” of her players, and she is full of anticipation for the first real game.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Shield-Dzakic said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

People gather around the concession stand at the new Haskell Indian Nations University softball complex after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Around 50-60 people were on hand to celebrate the grand opening.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

The Haskell Indians softball team holding a ribbon during the grand opening ceremony of their new softball facility. The facility includes new turf fields, bleachers for spectators, lights, a new scoreboard and a concession stand.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

The Haskell Indians softball team receiving a traditional cedar blessing during the opening ceremony for Haskell Indian Nations University new softball complex.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Lawrence Journal-World

Decorations on display during the grand opening ceremony of Haskell Indian Nation University’s new softball complex, held on Friday March 20, 2026.